[Always Right]

What about a Linux option? This is kind of silly for a company in court for monopolistic practices, but it may be good for the smaller independant PC maker who may be able to skirt Microsofts non-monopolistic policies.

[boris]

Don't buy Dell: they are anti-gun. Remember the Jack Weigand incident.

I recommend Alienware or Falcon Northwest.

--Boris

[Always Right]

Microsoft's new slogan: "We are not a monopoly, we just act like one!"

[TechJunkYard]

New Microsoft contract rules stipulate that we can no longer offer the "NO OS" option to our customers beyond September 1st... FYI - this effects all of our competitors as well.

Why don't the OEMs get together and tell Microsoft to get stuffed?

[Clara Lou]

OK-- this is not my area of knowledge, so I have a question. The email mentions 3 particular lines of computers. How does MS have the authority to require Dell to sell their OS on these machines?

[Thud]

This may be a violation of the prior antitrust settlement.

[SamAdams76]

The first thing I do when I buy a computer (when I don't build my own) is wipe the hard drive completely clean. Then I do a clean install of Windows. This gets rid of all the crap that comes with a store-bought PC that you will never use and bogs your system down. For those who wish to install Linux or some other non-Microsoft OS, it can be done easily enough. Just wipe the hard drive clean and install whatever you want.

[Gorzaloon]

We must have all "No OS" orders shipped out of the factory by September 1st. The "No OS" legend code and SKUs will be I-coded on 8/19 and D-coded on August 26th to ensure shipment of orders prior to September 1st. FYI - this effects all of our competitors as well.

This could be a hoax or a troll.

Let's try it again:

FYI - this AFFECTS all of our competitors as well.

[amigatec]

Calling the FUD Patrol!!!!!
Calling the FUD Patrol!!!!

Redmond we have a problem...........

[Bush2000]

Some Sys Admin sent in an email that he got from Dell...

Ah, of course: Slashdot says "Some Admin" told them so, using an anonymous Hotmail account, no less. And this is supposed to give them credibility. Sorry, anybody could have fabricated that email. It's interchangable with any of the millions of porn solicitacions, chain letters, virus myths, and penis enlargement devices being circulated around the Internet on any given day.

[Cacique]

Microsoft Ubber Alles bump

[Brush_Your_Teeth]

I have never heard of dell offering to sell anything but a windows operateing system. I believe IBM sells both Unix and Windows but never Dell. I could be wrong but this smells like a hoax.

[Charles_Bingley]

Dude, you're not getting a Dell.

[gore3000]

Excuse me, but is this not illegal for MS to do according to the consent agreements on the monopoly case?

[usconservative]

Got news for you: Dell has refused to sell PC's without operating systems for a few years now.

When I ordered my first Dell from them back in 1997, they refused to sell "naked pc's" (that is, pc's without an operating system. They said at the time they couldn't support the pc since a requirement by Dell was to have an OS that was capable of running their diagnostics utilities - which were ironically all Windows based.

Last year when I ordered my second Dell -- same story.

Now, I've ordered from Dell out of convenience. I can easily build my own pc to spec, but because I lack the time to do it, I order them from Dell. The last PC I bought "in pieces" was 3 years ago - the parts are all still in their boxes and it's a worthless system now.

[RISU]

Simple: Just refuse to pay money to anyopne fololowing Microsoft's philosophy of "forcing" the consumer to behave.

[rdb3]

The Penguin Ping. Want on or off? Just holla!

Got root?

NOTE: This Penguin Ping is a restoration. Check with me to make sure you're back on it.

[wattsmag2]

Check this site out for parts, barebones, and systems. http://www.pricewatch.com/